Fear Effect

"This Resident Fears no Evil?? Aww... horrible pun..."

Let me just get right to the point. This is the best game I have played on any system this year. I can't begin to tell you how outstandingly great it is. The gameplay pumps new life into this somewhat old genre, the music/soundfx (especially the voice acting) are incredible, and the graphics are also great (they're the only weak link in the game, and they're still great!). So, here we go.

Graphics (9/10)- For a Playstation game, this is outstanding. The game looks so different from anything else you've ever played. I love Anime, so of course I felt right at home. The characters are nice and detailed, and the death animations are great. The only problems are as follows: The graphics can get grainy at times, and the looping backgrounds will stutter every now and again to reload the animation. But you probably won't really notice. Still, top-notch.

Gameplay (10/10)- GREAT! I have nothing bad to say here. I loved RE's controls, and I love them here too. The inventory system is realistic (no pausing while you're getting your ass kicked to change weapons). What this does is it makes you act in a split second, and that's what the game is all about. The controls are difficult at first, but once you master them you will appreciate them all the more.

Music/SoundFX (10/10)- FINALLY! A game that finally gets the voice-acting down pat! The qualm I had with games like Resident Evil is that when one person was talking, EVERYTHING else was quiet. No one would interrupt them, or say anything in-between, it was just one person saying ''What... what is this... place?'' (cue next person) ''Wow, what a.... MANSION!'' Very lame and unrealistic. But Fear Effect is different. The actors are outstanding, and the conversations are authentic. The first case is when you must defuse a bomb from Jin's chest, and while you are talking he's still breathing and moaning. I think that's awesome. Also the gunshots, and the sounds of guards when they die, are great.

Storyline (10/10)- I'm sorry, but I had to include this in the score because it's too great not to. A plot that finally has you on the other side of the game. You're not Johnny Superhero, trying to save the world from the evil clutches of Gamblor, you're just a few mercenaries trying to make oh 90 million dollars or so... and how do they plan to get that kind of money? Kidnapping! There's cussing and nudity as well... bravo, Kronos, bravo.

Overall (9/10)- What else can I say? Great gameplay, great graphics, great storyline.... what more do you want? Go buy the game if you even had a passive likeness for RE. Or, if you HATED RE, at least rent this game. It's great.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 02/25/00, Updated 01/13/01